Starting out in LTC

[nicenrse]

I graduated nursing school in October, took Nclex November, and was extactic to be an RN.....until 100+ applications and rejections Ugh....it's enough to knock anyone down, So imagine my surprise when I got a call OFFERING my a nursing position!!!!! It in a LTC facility, patient load is 16 which seems amazing compared to the norm!! However I was told my orientation would only be about 4-5 days!!!!!!! Im freaking out! What if Im not ready after such a short orientation? How long will it take to feel comfortable in this area as a new grad? any advice or words of wisdom to help the transition would be awesome!!! Im sooooo nervous!!!!

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

I do think I will be one of those people that will cry in my car on my way home feeling overwhelmed while I figure out how to make the next day better!!

I don't know about anyone else but I have broke down crying on the way home a couple times. I let myself cry. I go home and take a long hot shower and think about how I can better handle a hectic shift next time. I do my best thinking in the shower.

Go with an open mind and learn all you can. When I first started the inservice nurse said to me "Go out there and put yourself in sponge mode"

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I'm almost 3 yrs into my facility and I still have to ask questions. I'd rather a new nurse (be them an RN or LPN) ask me questions over and over than not and possibly harm one of "my" grammy's or grampy's :)

And, please, refrain from the grammy and grandpy names one of the other posters used. It is condescending and not at all dignified (unless the resident asks you specifically to call them that).

Good luck!

I said my grammy's or grampy's not as a condescending and undignified term..I meant it as I care for all my residents like they were my very own grandparent. Sorry it came across as being condescending or undignified. I surely didn't mean it that way. And I definatly don't call my residents by "pet names" like grammy, grampy, sweetie, honey etc. I treat them with the respect they deserve.

But I actually have several residents who've verbalized they'd love to be called Grandma/Grammy Poppa/Grandpa as they don't see their own grandchildren often and see me as "family". Many of our residents are called by those terms of enderment that they requested..Gram/Gramp, Poppy, Nanna, etc.